The Levack family experience the "forgotten corner of Cornwall".

LUCY, our pet cocker spaniel, made a bolt for freedom as I answered the door of our quirky, cosy cottage.

As I grabbed her collar to drag her back indoors, a familiar face laughed at the mundane scene unfolding before him.

I smiled back as if I knew him, and I did - it was whatsisname, that bloke off Mock the Week, the clever stand up comedian.

"Hugh Dennis," my wife cut in to choruses of "where did he go, where is he now?" from our two lads, presumably desperate to stalk him.

But Kingsand, a little village in what its own residents proudly hail as "the forgotten corner of Cornwall", isn't a stalking kind of place.

Despite being just over the Sound from Plymouth on the Rame peninsular, it's the kind of place where celebs can go to get away from the well worn Cornish tourist trail.

We left him to get on with his holiday in peace, to wander aimlessly without the worry of ticking time around this little haven of tranquility that you'd miss if you blinked.

Most plough onwards towards the tourist bait of spots like Looe, Polperro and Mevagissey with their fudge, cream teas and seagulls.

But if it's a little taste of real Cornwall you're after then Kingsand and the adjoining village of Cawsand are it in a crabshell.

Plenty of weather-ravaged pubs, cobbled streets giving way to tiny little beaches but no cliched cream tea and scone shops... only an excellent organic cafe.

This is a living Cornwall not geared totally to tourists, so protective of its unique easy-going character that you can't even park on the street.

The two villages meet to form one of the most fascinating places in Cornwall, steeped in a history spanning smuggling to sailors, including Lord Nelson who was a regular here.

For a change there's a sensational rolling walk along the rugged raised coast towards Mount Edgcumbe Country Park and its Grade 1 historic gardens.

There and back it's about four miles and an awful lot of whingeing, the perfect distance to work up a thirst to be quenched in one of the village's several boozers - Halfway House and the Rising Sun the best of them.

Our wonderfully tall and thin cottage, the aptly named Penlee Narrows, was cosiness itself with a small living room overlooking the sea and three character bedrooms. Set on a promontory, Kingsand is within striking distance of the beautiful layered harbour and overhanging streets of Looe, itself a seagull's swoop from the more cutesy, olde worlde charm of Polperro.

But if sea air, pasties and crabbing aren't your thing then a 45 minute drive along the coast are the magnificent Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Cue the usual cries of "do we have to go there?" soon abated as we yomped Attenborough-style through a subtropical micro-climate jungle at its heart.

Created more than 400 years ago this most mysterious of estates almost vanished after decades of neglect and the devastating hurricane of 1990. But the romance of a secret garden which even managed to captivate my children of limited attention span endured, and the award-winning garden goes from strength to strength.

Banana trees, giant rhubarb, bamboo tunnels and vines more used to snaking their way through the rainforest make it easy to lose yourself in the steep-sided valley built around four ponds and a cascading stream.

More natural than the Eden Project it's also well on the way to the Duchy's better known attractions of St Ives and Land's End.

Our stay was completed by a now traditional visit to Porthtowan for bodyboarding and a burger in the fabulous Blue Bar.

It's a waterfront grill where you can spot the occasional star... presumably before they head back to Kingsand and anonymity. n Jim and his family stayed courtesy of Helpful Holidays at Penlee Narrows, Kingsand, which sleeps six in three bedrooms. The price for a week's stay during 2008 is from £237. Pets welcome. For details call Helpful Holidays on 01647 434063 or look and book on www.helpfulholidays.com (Penlee Narrows is ref R26)

Helpful Holidays are keen to hear from any West Midlanders with properties in the South West to feature in their brochure. If yours fits the bill, call them on the number above.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are open every day (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) : 10am to 6pm (March to October) 10am to 5pm (November to February). Adults: £8.50, Senior Citizens £7.50, Children (5-16 yrs) £5, Children (under 5) FREE, Family (two adults & up to three children) £23.50